F 851 
.G78 
Copy 1 



Achievements 

of 

Captain Robert Gray 



We tell it, and then quit' 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

BY 

FRANCIS E. SMITH 



I 
(^) "I have no prejudices, but in favor of my native land." 

^ (John Adams to King George III., of Great Britain) 

^ Dedicated to the children of the public schools of the United States of 

S America. Francis E. Smith. 

^ All Rights Reserved. 

PRICE 50 CENTS 



FOREWARD. 

We are confident that this book will meet a longfelt want of the 
school children of the United States of America. 

Many citizens, born and educated in the United States, have but a 
meager knowledge of the achievements of Captain Robert Gray, the mod- 
ern discoverer of the inland waters of the State of Washington. 

The following brief account of the discovery of the interior sea lying 
on the western coast of North America, has been compiled for the most 
part from the latest documents written by various authors on the history 
of this great commonwealth, the State of Washington. 

For illustration of the period of discovery, constant reference has 
been made to the writings of George Vancouver, Mr. Archibald Menzies, 
John Boit, Dr. Norton Shaw, Manning, Hermann, Bourne, Meany, Howay, 
Atwood and others. 

Great condensation of material has been necessary; but the compiler 
has endeavored to seize upon the most relevant points, and to furnish, 
within the limits of a book of this size, at least a fairly complete out- 
line of a well nigh inexhaustible subject. 

My acknowledgements are due to my wife, who has been my con- 
stant companion during my travels throughout the highways and byways 
of the State of Washington, from Spokane to Cape Flattery, and from 
the Columbia River to the Canadian Boundary. We have traveled to- 
gether through sunshine and rain, across the deserts, over the moun- 
tains, waded the streams, sailed the inland sea in dugout Indian canoes, 
steamship and launch. In visiting the homes of this great common- 
wealth we have heard from the lips of Pioneers much of the early his- 
tory of our adopted State. 

Trusting that the knowledge thus obtained, and hereby given to the 
public will be acceptable, and prove a rich blessing to coming genera- 
tions, I remain, 

FRANCIS E. SMITH. 
R. F. D. No. 3, Box 166, 
Tacoma, Washington, 
September. 1922. 



COLONIALISM 

Christoplier Columbus discovered America, October 12, 1492; return- 
ing to Spain March 15, 1493; one month later he was called into the 
presence of Ferdinand and Isabella, the sovereigns of Spain. 

May 3, 1493, Pope Alexander VI. issued a decree, giving to Spain ex- 
clusive rights over the newly discovered world, including all lands dis- 
covered and to be discovered 

Previously the Pope had granted to Portugal the exclusive use of 
the eastern route to India by way of the Cape of Good Hope; in recog- 
nition of the discovery of the Cape by a Portuguese navigator, in 1486, 
six years before Columbus discovered America. 

Portugal, fearing Spanish invasion upon her rights, appealed to the 
Pope for a modification of the donation to Spain, on the ground that it 
was an infringement of Portuguese rights. The Pope in the interests of 
harmony, May 4, established a dividing line extending from the North 
to the South Poles, one hundred leagues west and south of the Azores 
and Cape Verdes Islands; all lands west of this line should be the ex- 
clusive property of Spain; no one could visit the New World without 
permission from Spain. This conception of ownership was taught to the 
Spaniards for centuries. In return for the donation, Spain was to Chris- 
tianize the infidels of the New World. Spain was authorized to take 
possession and plant the cross in all lands not occupied by a Christian 
Prince. 

Portugal, being dissatisfied with the dividing line as drawn, made a 
second appeal to the Pope for relief, in response to the request of Portu- 
gal, the Pope established a new dividing line to be drawn three hundred 
and seventy leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, with instructions 
that should the line pass through an island a tower was to be erected 
for the purpose of marking the line. 

The line when drawn gave to Portugal the eastern part of South 
America; Spain received the western part of South America and all of 
North America. 

Portugal began the colonization of Brazil and Argentina; Spain 
colonized Central and Western South America, extending her settlements 
northward along the Pacific coast as far as California, leaving the 
Atlantic coast north of Florida unoccupied. 

The colonial policy of Portugal and Spain monopolized commerce, 
retarded the progress of civilization, and strove to prevent other nations 
from obtaining a foothold upon the continents of North and South 
America. 

Norway claimed the right to the freedom of the seas on the ground 
that Spain and Portugal had failed to plant the Christian faith in the 
New World. 

England, claiming the legitimate right to establish colonies any- 
where on the face of the globe that was unoccupied by a Christian na- 
tion, began establishing colonies along the Atlantic coast to the north 
of Florida; in 1613, Spain protested against British colonies in Virginia 
on the ground of the rights bestowed by the donation of Pope Alex- 
ander. 

The Briton and the Spaniard, each having their own settled opinions, 
could not understand the mind of the other; the Spaniard had been 
taught for centuries that America was the exclusive possession of Spain, 
to be developed and exploited at will; and could not conceive that any 

0ift 

Cf:C IC !9Sg 



one would dare to infringe upon their rights, as the line drawn by the 
Pope was fixed until it was annulled or changed. The Briton was ac- 
customed to the thought that the line drawn by the Pope was arbitrary, 
and could not believe that any one in good faith would attempt to en- 
force the mandate of the Pope. This difference of opinion between the 
Briton and the Spaniard was brought to an issue at Nootka Sound, 
Vancouver Island, during the months of May and June, 1789. 

AMERICAN HISTORY. 

The transformation from European colonialism to an independent 
American nation, is one of the great historical events. 

The year 1789 is the pivot year in American history; among the events 
of that year, colonialism passed away, the United States began to func- 
tion under a Federal Constitution, Captain Gray discovered the inland 
waters of Puget Sound, and laid the foundation for the Greater United 
States. The President's advisers, by expressing their opinions on the 
question of permitting European nations to encroach on American soil, 
prepared the way for the promulgation of The Monroe Doctrine. 

In addition to the above events, Captain Gray sailed from Clayoquot 
harbor, Vancouver Island, July 30, 1789, on his return voyage to Boston, 
by way of China, arriving at his destination August 10, 1790, being the 
first man to circumnavigate the globe in a ship carrying the American 
flag. 

The above events In American history, occurring during the year 
1789, have exercised, directly or indirectly, a tremendous influence on 
human affairs. 

Spain and England each planned to colonize the Pacifiic Northwest, 
in the year 1789, the Spaniard and the Briton met at Nootka Sound, 
Vancouver Island; a quarrel ensued, which brought on a controversy be- 
tween the governments of Spain and England and threatened to involve 
the two nations in war. 

Florida and Louisiana being Spanish possessions, and Canada being 
a British possession, a conflict between Spain and England would be 
waged on American soil. England, in the event of a war with Spain, 
would have undoubtedly attempted to march an army from Detroit to 
New Orleans; President Washington, realizing the seriousness of the 
situation, if England should attempt to march an army across the terri- 
tory of the United States, and having no precedent in American history 
to guide him, called upon his advisers for an expression of opinion, as 
to the best course for the United States to pursue. Hamilton, Jefferson, 
Adams, Knox and Chief Justice Jay each expressed an opinion; of 
the opinions expressed by the President's advisers, has come a guiding 
principle for the United States, known as the "Monroe Doctrine." 

Plans were formed and prepared for execution by President Wash- 
ington and his cabinet that greatly influenced both of the contending 
parties and brought about a peaceable solution of the Nootka Sound con- 
troversy and raised the United States to a position of considerable im- 
portance. 

Perhaps it may be well to say in passing, that Nootka Sound has 
never been occupied by white men as a permanent settlement, that it 
remains to this day an Indian settlement. 

WASHINGTON HISTORY 

The history of the State of Washington runs in cycles of one hun- 
dred years each; Iho first cycle begins with the discovery of America in 
1492, by Christopher Columbus, ending with the half-mythical discovery of 



the Straits of Juan de Fiica in 1592, by a Greek pilot; the second cycle 
from 1592 to 1692 was devoted to a fruitless search for the mysterious 
"Straits of Annian" ending with a Royal Spanish decree, forbidding for- 
eign vessels from navigating the South Pacific Ocean; the third cycle 
from 1692 to 1792, was a period of actual discoveries along the coast of 
western North America, ending with the examination of the continental 
shores of the inland waters of the State of Washington, by Captain 
George Vancouver, British navigator and explorer; the fourth cycle from 
1792 to 1892, is a period of development from a newly discovered terri- 
tory to the status of sovereign statehood. 

The first discovery of any- portion of the State of Washington, of 
any particular historical value, was made by Captain James Cook, one 
of the most eminent of England's celebrated navigators; the story of the 
discovery is best told in Captain Cook's own words: — 

Captain Cook's Journal, pages 262-263, Vol. 2. 

"Sunday, March 22, 1778, 8 o'clock: 

" * * * -we saw the land, extending from North East to East, 
nine leagues distant. At this time we were in the latitude of 47.5. North, 
and in the longitude of 235.10. East * * * i continued to stand to 
the north with a fine breeze at west, and west northwest, till 7 o'clock 
in the evening, when I tacked to wait for daylight. At this time, we 
were in forty-eight fathoms water, and about four leagues from land, 
which extended from North to South, East half East, and a small round hill, 
which had the appearance of being an island, bore North three-quarters 
Bast, distant five or six leagues, as I guessed; it appears to be of a 
tolerable height, and was but just to be seen from the deck. Between 
this island, or rock, and the Northern extreme of the land, there ap- 
peared to be a small opening which flattered us with the hope of find- 
ing an harbour. These hopes lessened as we drew nearer; and, at last, 
we had some reason to think, that the opening was closed by low land. 
On this account I called the point of land to the North of it 'Cape Flat- 
tery.' It lies in the latitude of 48.15. North, and in the longitude of 235.3. 
East. There is a round hill of moderate size over it; and all the land 
upon this part of the coast is of moderate and pretty equal height, well 
covered with wood, and had a pleasant and fertile appearance. It is in 
this very latitude where we now were, that geographers have placed the 
pretended Strait of Juan de Fuca. But we saw nothing like it; nor is 
there the least probability that any such thing exists." 

Captain Cook approached Cape Flattery from the south, close in 
shore, the promontory from the direction in which Captain Cook saw it, 
has the appearance of an island, about fifteen hundred feet in height, it 
is separated from the foothills of the Olympic mountains by a small 
stream, "Waatch Creek." This stream crosses Cape Flattery from Neah 
Bay on the north side to Mukkaw Bay on the south side, the stream is 
about three miles in length. Mukkaw Bay has the appearance of being 
a safe harbor when viewed from a distance of five or six leagues, but 
upon approaching it, it is found to be closed to navigation for any sized 
craft, by innumerable rocks. The beach of Mukkaw Bay is one of the 
most beautiful stretches of ocean beach in the world. 

Captam George Vancouver, who was a member of the Cook expedi- 
tion, says in his journal under date of April 29, 1792, that Mukkaw Bay 
is the same bay that Captain Cook stood into March 22-24, 1778. Van- 
jLJ couver Journal : — 

/^ "About noon, we reached its south entrance, which I understand the 



^ 






natives distinguish by the name of Classet. From the northwest part of 
Tatooche's island, which bears from the point of the premontory. of 
Classet N. 79 W. distant about two miles, the exterior coast takes a di- 
rection nearly south about ten leagues; where, as we passed, I anxiously 
looked out for the point which Captain Cook had distinguished by the 
name of Cape Flattery, of which I could not be completely satisfied, on 
account of the difference in latitude. A shallow bay, however, does ex- 
tend about three leagues to the southward of Classet, which falls some 
distance back from the general line of the coast; and the base of the 
inland mountains which preject there, and form deep ravines, present at 
a distance the appearance of a safe and secure port; but on a nearer 
approach, the whole was found firmly connected by a sandy beach. This, 
most probably, is the bay which the 'Resolution' and 'Discovery' stood 
into and Classet is the point with an island lying off it, which Captain 
Cook named Cape Flattery." 

Captain Vancouver further says: — 
"October 14, 1792: 

"We shortened sail for the night, and inclined our course toward 
Cape Classet. I had been given to understand that this promontory was 
by the natives called Classet; but now finding that this name had origi- 
nated only from that of an inferior chief's residing in its neighborhood, 
I have, therefore, resumed Captain Cook's appellation of Cape Flattery." 

Captain Cook hauled off from the south side of Cape Flattery late 
at night; passing out to sea in a northwesterly direction he missed the 
entrance of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Arriving at Nootka Sound, 
March 29, 1778, he entered the harbor and remained a month refitting 
his ships for an extended voyage to the northward. While sojourning at 
Nootka, he accidently came into the possession of several seal skins of 
great value; which was the beginning of the fur trade between the north- 
west coast of America and China. 

June 29, 1788, Captain John Mears, an English navigator, engaged in 
the fur trade, sighted the entrance of an inlet, on the north side of Cape 
Flattery which he named "The Straits of Juan de Fuca," in recognition 
of the half-mythical history of the discovery of the inlet by a Greek pilot 
in the year 1592. Later in the season. Captain Mears dispatched a boat 
expedition under the command of a Mr. Duffin, with instructions to ex- 
amine the inlet and take possession of the territory in the name of the 
King of England; owing to the hostility of the natives and the super- 
stitious fears of the sailors, the expedition failed to accomplish its de- 
signs. 

Early in March, 1789, Captain Robert Gray, an American navigator, 
engaged in the fur trade, sailed from Nootka Sound in a southeasterly 
I direction; passing entirely through tbe Straits of Juan de Fuca, he en- 
ered the interior sea, which branches out in various directions from the 
upper end of the Straits. A complete account of Captain Gray's achieve- 
ments will be found in the next chapter. 

April 29, 1792, Captain George Vancouver, British navigator, sent out 
to the northwest coast of America by the government of Great Britain, 
with instructions to make a personal examination of the continental 
shore lines of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and ihe inland sea discovered 
by Captain Gray, in 1789; fell in with Captain Gray off the coast of 
Washington, near Destruction Island, and sent two of his officers, Mr. 
Puget and Mr. Menzies. on board the American vessel to acquire such 
information as would be serviceable to the British expedition in its fu- 



ture operations; Captain Gray gave to the two British officers who 
boarded the American vessel, all of the information in his power, espe- 
cially that relating to the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the interior sea; 
of which the British expedition was in search. Captain Vancouver, upon 
receipt of the information obtained from Captain Gray, proceeded to 
carry out his instructions. 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF CAPTAIN GRAY. 

American designs on the Pacific northwest began in the year 1766, 
ten years before the Declaration of Independence by the American 
colonies; plans were laid at Boston for an overland expedition from the 
head of the Great Lakes to the Pacific northwest; the Revolutionary 
War caused a postponement of the plans until the Lewis and Clark ex- 
pedition, 1803. 

The news of Captain Cook's discovery at Nootka Sound of the fur 
trade with China, having reached Boston, a company was organized, os- 
tensibly for the purpose of entering the fur trade by sending ships to the 
Pacific northwest. 

Two vessels the "Columbia," two hundred and twenty tons burden, 
in command of Captain John Kendrick; and the "Washington," ninety 
tons burden, Captain Robert Gray, sailed from Boston harbor, October 1, 
1787, ostensibly on a trading voyage to the Pacific northwest. 

The sending of two defenseless vessels into forbidden seas, and in 
the face of the most hostile European opposition, is one of the most dar- 
ing adventures in the history of navigation. Only the end in view, that 
of obtaining a foothold for the United States in the Pacific northwest, 
was worthy of the risk. The gaining of a foothold by our American 
navigators, is the miracle of the eighteenth century; the story of the 
work accomplished by our American sailors in the Pacific northwest, is 
stranger than fiction. 

After vexatious delays at the Cape Verde and Falkland Islands, the 
two American vessels entered the forbidden seas by rounding Cape 
Horn; April 1, 1788, the vessels became separated in a storm; Captain 
Kendrick, being superior officer in command of the expedition, had is- 
sued orders that in the event of the vessels becoming separated, the 
place of rendezvous should be Nootka Sound. The Columbia put into 
the island of Juan Fernandez, the Spanish governor of the island re- 
lieved the distress of the Columbia and issued to Captain Kendrick a 
permit to sail the forbidden seas, for so doing, the governor was cash- 
iered by the Spanish Viceroy of Chile with the approval of the Vice-roy 
of Peru. 

Captain Gray, in command of the sloop Washington, stood clear of 
all obstacles and arrived off the coast of Washington, August 2, 1788; 
while sailing northward along the Washington coast, he discovered 
"Snowy mountains in the distance," which were, no doubt, the highest 
peaks of the Cascade range; that they can be seen from the Pacific 
ocean is confirmed by Captain Vancouver in his journal, under date of 
October 18, 1792, in which he says: — 

"In the course of the morning we had seen a remarkably high, round 
mountain, which now bore by compass, N. 79 E.* and rose conspicuously 
from a plain of low, or rather moderately, elevated land, and was cov- 
ered with snow as far down as the intervening hills permitted us to see. 
We entertained little doubt of its being Mount Rainier, which was soon 
afterwards confirmed; its distance from us being an hundred geographi- 
cal miles." (*N. 79 E. is a misprint for S .79 E.) 



That the highest peak of the Cascade range is not to be confused 
with Mount Olympus when viewed from the Pacific ocean is evident from 
what Captain Vancouver says in his journal under date of October 16, 
1792: 

"Whether our having been latterly accustomed to see more lofty 
mountains or whether the mountain being disrobed of its winter garment 
(the snow being now only in patches) produced the effect, is not easily 
determined, but it certainly seemed of less stupendous height than when 
we first beheld it in the spring." 

Continuing his voyage northward along the coast, Captain Gray ar- 
rived at Nootka Sound, September 16, 1788, where he found Chinese 
laborers at work building a ship for an English company under the direc- 
tion of Captain Mears. A few days after his arrival the ship was 
launched. 

It is worth noticing, that the first laborers brought to the West 
Coast were Chinese. 

After making a survey of the needs of the fur trade. Captain Gray 
began preparations for a voyage to China for supplies to be used in the 
fur trade; before he could put his plans into execution, Captain Ken- 
drick arrived and decided to winter at Nootka. In a few days the Brit- 
ish company of sailors and laborers departed for China and the Sand- 
wich (Hawaiian) islands. 

The Americans, during the winter acquired a knowledge of the In- 
dian language, which proved to be of great value to them a few months 
later. 

The first of March, 1789, Captain Kendrick ordered Captain Gray out 
on a trading voyage to the southward. 

Sailing in a southeasterly direction, and following the shore line of 
Vancouver Island. Captain Gray sailed entirely through the Straits of 
Juan de Fuca and entered the interior sea that branches out in various 
directions from the upper end of the straits. 

Returning to the Pacific ocean by the same way in which he entered 
the straits, he arrived at Nootka Sound, April 23, after an absence of six 
weeks. 

During his absence, Don Martinez, a Spanish naval officer, had ar- 
rived at Nootka Sound with instructions to "take such measures with 
the American vessels as you may be able and such as appear proper." 
Martinez examined the papers of the American vessels and finding noth- 
ing derogatory to the interests of Spain, gave permission to the Ameri- 
can captains to continue their operations. In return for the favors shown 
by Den Martinez, the American captains acknowledged the claims of 
Spain to the territory by firing the customary salute, and assisting the 
Spaniards in their dealings with the natives, with their knowledge of 
the Indian language. 

The British navigators upon their arrival at Nootka in May and 
June, refused to acknowledge the claims of Spain and a quarrel ensued 
between the Spaniard and the Briton. 

During May and June, Captain Gray sailed northward on a trading 
excursion, meeting with better success in his dealings with the natives 
than he did on his southern excursion, he returned to Nootka. 

Exchanging vessels with Captain Kendrick, Captain Gray sailed from 
Clayoquot harbor, in command of the Columbia, July 30, 1789, on a re- 
turn voyage to Boston. Stopping at a seaport in China, he exchanged 
the cargo of furs for a cargo of tea; continuing bis voyage around the 



world, he arrived in Boston, August 10, 1790. The log of the Colum- 
bia showed that the vessel had sailed a distance of 50,000 miles. 
Captain Gray is the first man who circumnavigated the globe under the 
American flag. 

The Columbia was refitted and put in perfect condition for another 
voyage to the northwest coast; Captain Gray was placed in command. 
The expedition sailed from Boston September 28, 1790, arriving at Clayo- 
quot harbor June 4, 1791. 

Captain Gray made several trading excursions during the summer, 
and then anchored in Clayoquot for the winter. A small vessel was con- 
structed during the winter and placed in commission; later it was sold 
to the Spaniards. 

During March, 1792, Captain Gray, in command of the Columbia, 
sailed south from Clayoquot as far as the boundary line betwetn Oregan and 
California, where he turned about and shaped his course northward. 
Sunday morning, April 29, 1792, he fell in with a British naval expedition 
of two vessels, "Discovery" and "Chatham," under the command of Cap- 
tain George Vancouver. To the British this was an extraordinary coin- 
cidence. We are not told as to whether the meeting of the two expedi- 
tions was intentional or accidental on the part of the Americans; evi- 
dently by the record in the Vancouver journal. Captain Gray bore down 
on the British vessels. 

In his journal, Vancover says: 

"April 29, 1792. 

"At four o'clock a sail was discovered to the westward standing in 
shore. This was a very great novelty, not having seen any vessel but 
our consort, during the last eight months. She soon hoisted American 
colours, and fired a gun to leeward. At six we spoke her. She proved 
to be the ship 'Columbia,' commanded by Mr. Robert Gray, belonging to 
Boston, whence she had been absent nineteen months. Having little 
doubt of his being the same person who had formerly commanded the 
sloop 'Washington,' I desired he would bring to, and sent Mr. Puget and 
Mr. Menzies on board to acquire such information as might be service- 
able in our future operations. 

"On the return of the boat, we found our conjectures had not been ill 
grounded; that this was the same gentleman who had commanded the 
sloop 'Washington,' eit the time, we are informed, she had made a very 
singular voyage behind Nootka." 

Of the interview between Captain Gray and the British officers, Mr. 
Archibald Menzies in his unpublished journal, says: 

"April 29," 1792. 

* * * * "Spoke the Columbia of Boston, commanded by Mr. Gray 
* * * * we immediately brought to and sent a boat to the Columbia 
in which I accompanied Lieutenant Puget in order to obtain what infor- 
mation we could. * * * Mr. Gray informed us that in his former 
voyage he had gone up the Streights of Juan de Fuca in the sloop Wash- 
ington about 17 leagues in an East by South direction and finding he did 
not meet with encouragement as a Trader to pursue it further he re- 
turned back to sea again the very same way he had entered — he was 
therefore struck wih astonishment when we informed him of the sweep- 
ing tract of several degrees which Mr. Mears had given him credit for in 
his chart and publication." 

"He further informed us that in his present voyage he had been 9 
months on the Coast and wintered at Cloiquat, a district a little to the 



eastward of 'Nootka,' where he built a small sloop which was at time 
IsTes * *"" r if^*'"'^ ^"'■^ ^° *^^ Northward about Queen Charlotte's 

In further corroboration of Captain Gray's discovery of the interior 
sea, Vancouver says: 

"he understood from the natives, that the opening extended a consid. 
erable distance to the northward; * * *" 

In connection with Captain Gray's discovery of Puget Sound it will 
be well to note m passing that Spanish vessels had visited Port Discov- 
ery one year previous to the visit of the Vancouver expedition; in his 
journal under date of June 22, 1792, Vancouver says: 

"* * * I cannot avoid acknowledging that, on this occasion I ex- 
perienced no small degree of mortification in finding the external shores 
ot the gulf had been visited, and already examined ***** 
^r, f>!'^^^ Spanish vessels, that had been employed last year, had refitted 
Sodatiin^ * *^^* °*"^°'* Discovery, which afforded us similar accom- 

Of Captain Gray's conduct, Vancouver says: 

" * * * the 'Columbia' brought to for a short time, and made all 
the sail she could after us; which led us to conjecture that Mr. Gray had 

^,?L fif ''f'"^ ^"'"^^^ ^"^^ *^^ '^^^°""t §-i^«° by our officers! aSd 
suspected tnat our object was of a commercial nature like his own * * *" 

in«,-H ?r' ''^"""^^^ /^f, that Captain Gray pursued the British vessels 
mside the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and anchored for the 
night withm a few miles of the British vessels. 

thP ZT.if f ?™^^^; 4p^" 30 1792, the British expedition passed up 
the Straits of Juan de Fuca; Captain Gray in the Columbia passed out 
to sea and beg^an an examination of the coast to the southward of Cape 
Flattery. May 7th he discovered what appeared to be an extensive inlet • 
the jolly boat was lowered and the second officer sent in search of a 
possible opening that would admit of the passage of a vessel into the 
bay or inlet. The officer after making a search, returned on board ship 
and reported that he was unable to locate the opening; nothing daunted. 
Captain Gray determined to continue the search. In a short time their 
efforts were rewarded by discovering the opening from the masthead of 
the ship. All sail was set and a dash was made for the opening The 
Columbia passed safely inside the bar and anchored in longitude 124 
west; during the night the Americans were obliged to defend themselves 
against an attack from Indians. Before leaving the bay the sailors 
named the inlet after their captain, 'GRAY'S HARBOR." 
Captain Gray named the inlet "Bullfinch Bay." 
Captain Vancouver named the inlet "Whidbey Bay." 
The American vessel returned to the entrance of the Straits of Juan 
de Fuca; sailing southward she arrived at the mouth of the Columbia 
River May 11, 1792, where he had spent nine days trying to effect an 
entrance, but was unable to do so owing to the surf 
Vancouver in his journal says: 
April 29th. 

"* * * He also informed them of his having been off the mouth of 
a river in the latitude of 46.10. where the outset, or reflux, was so strong 
as to prevent his entering for nine days. This was, probably, the open- 
ing passed by us on the forenoon of the 27th; and was, apparently, in- 
accessible, not from the current, but from the breakers that extended 
across it." 



Friday morning, May 11, 1792, 8 a. m.. Captain Robert Gray, Ameri- 
can navigator, in command of the American ship Columbia, crossed the 
bar of the Columbia River and came to anchor in fresh water. 

After making an examination of the lower end of the river. Captain 
Gray replenished tlie water supply of the ship by filling the casks with 
fresh water. Returning to the Pacific ocean, later in the season, he met 
Senor Quadra, Spanish Commissioner, and furnished him with maps of 
Gray's Harbor and the Columbia River. When Quadra met Vancouver 
at Nootka Sound in September, he gave Mr. Vancouver copies of Captain 
Gray's maps of Gray's Harbor and the Columbia River. Captain Van- 
couver re-examined the coast between Cape Flattery and the Columbia 
River during October, 1792; he sent Mr. Whidbey into Gray's Harbor 
and Captain Broughton into the Columbia River. 

Vancouver journal, vol. 2, 1801 ed., page 288: "* * * to re-exam- 
ine the coast of New Albion, and particularly a river and harbour discov- 
ered by Mr. Gray in the 'Columbia' between the 46th and 47th degrees 
of north, latitude, of which Sen. Quadra had favoured me with a sketch." 

Captain Gray remained on the coast until October 3, 1792, when he 
bade farewell to the mountains of North America. 

Captain Gray's discovery of Puget Sound, laid bare the secrets of 
the Annian. During the two centuries between 1592 and 1792, England 
sent out over two hundred voyages in a search for the mysterious water- 
way that was supposed to exist on the continent of North America. 
Captain Cook says that geographers had placed the entrance of the half- 
mythical waterway somewhere in the vicinity of Cape Flattery. About 
the year 1710, there was published in London a map drawn by Hermann 
Moll giving the location of the entrance to the "Straits of Annian," at 
the point of entrance to the Strait of Juan de Flica For many years 
superstitious mariners passed and repassed the entrance of the straits, 
but the awful silence of the region prevented them from entering. Of 
the silence, Vancouver says: "* * * her awful silence was only now 
and then interrupted by the croaking of a raven, the breathing of a 
seal, or the scream of an eagle. Even these solitary sounds were so 
seldom heard that the rustling of the breeze along the shore, assisted 
by the solemn stillness that prevailed, gave rise to ridiculous suspicions 
in our seamen." 

Captain Gray interrupted the silence of centuries when he pub- 
lished the news of his discovery, April 23, 1789. The news spread from 
Nootka to China; John Mears carried it from China to England and pub- 
lished it in London, April, 1790. England, fearing the New Republic 
would gain a "foothold in the Pacific Northwest, dispatched an expend- 
tion under the command of Captain George Vancouver, to proceed to 
the western coast of North America and obtain from a Spanish com- 
missioner the claims of Spain on the territory. An account of the 
British and Spanish commissioners' negotiations at Nootka Sound during 
September, 1792, will be given in the next chapter. 

This great international waterway, discovered by Captain Gray has 
never been closed to navigation, since the day that Captain Gray broke 
the silence and published the news to the world. 

QUADRA AND VANCOUVER 

The Nootka Sound controversy between England and Spain was ad- 
justed by the signing of a convention, October 28, 1790; in the conven- 
tion Spain conceded to England all of her claims to the Pacific Coast, 



north of California. Each government appointed a commissioner to go to 
Nootka Sound and carry out the provisions of the first article of the con- 
vention, which read as follows: 

"It is agreed that the buildings and tracts of land situated on the 
Northwest Coast of the continent of North America, or on islands adja- 
cent to that continent, of which the subjects of His Britannic Majesty- 
were dispossessed about the month of April, 1789, by a Spanish officer, 
shall be restored to the said British subjects." 

The morning of Aug. 28, 1792, Senor Quadra breakfasted with Captain 
Vancouver on board the Discovery; the compliment was returned by the 
British officers dining with Senor Quadra at his residence on shore. Dur- 
ing the dinner hour, Maquinna, an Indian chief, who was present, ob- 
jected to the transfer of the territory from Spain to Etagland. 

During the forenoon of Thursday, the 30th, Captain Vancouver re- 
ceived a letter from Senor Quadra, bearing on the territory to be surren- 
dered. In the letter, Senor Quadra gives a brief review of the contro- 
versy, ending his letter by saying; "These circumstances duly consid- 
ered, it is evident that Spain has nothing to deliver up." 

The documents accompanying this letter were copies of a corre- 
spondence between Senor Quadra and Viana, commander of the Ephi- 
genia, at the time of his arrest by Martinez, April, 1789; and a joint 
statement from Captain Gray and Joseph Ingraham, captain and mate of 
the Washington, April, 1789. 

In reply to Senor Quadra's letter of the 29th, Captain Vancouver 
said, that he did not consider himself authorized to enter into a discus- 
sion on the respective rights and pretentions of the court of Spain or 
England, touching the coasts of Western North America, to the north- 
ward of California. Being invested with powers only to receive the ter- 
ritories according to the first and fifth articles of the convention. The 
fifth article of the convention, provided for free access to all ports estab- 
lished subsequent to April, 1789, by either nation, to the northward of 
California. 

Personally the Briton and the Spaniard were very warm friends, 
diplomatically they were far apart and could not come to an under- 
standing. 

The cause of the misunderstanding is summed up by Captain Van- 
couver in the following words: 

"The guarded conduct observed by Senor Quadra, in his endeavors 
to retain the whole, or at any event to preserve a right in Nootka, evi- 
dently manifested the degree of jealousy with which the court of Spain 
regards the commercial intercourse that is likely to be established on 
this side of the world." 

Tuesday, September 18, 1792, the negotiations between Captain Van- 
couver and Senor Quadra, came to a close; the port remaining in the 
possession of Spain. 

The whole matter was referred back to the governments of England and 
Spain; after a delay of several months a new convention was signed, 
February 12, 179^? in which it was agreed on the part of Spain to re- 
imburse the injured British subjects, "His Catholic Majesty * * * 
agrees to pay as indemnity to the parties interested in it the amount 
of two hundred and ten thousand hard dollars in specie." 

January 11, 1794, another convention was signed by British and 
Spanish representatives, for the mutual abandonment of Nootka Sound; 
Commissioners from England and Spain met at Nootka, March 23, 1795; 



after destroying the buildings of the Spanish settlement the British and 
Spanish flags were hauled down and the place abandoned to the Indians 
by whom it is still inhabited. 

In the adjustment of the boundary line between Canada and the 
United States, it became necessary for the United States to acquire a 
relinquishment of the claims of Spain to all territory north of California, 
such relinquishment is contained in the third article of the treaty be- 
tween the United States and Spain, dated February 22, 1819. 

The relinquishment obtained from Spain, coupled with the discov- 
eries made by Captain Gray, in 1789 and 1792, gave the United States 
an incontestable right to the territory of the State of Washington. 

House of Representatives Document, 708, 56th Congress, 2nd Ses- 
sion : — 

"When the treaty of 1846 was before the Senate for ratification, Mr. 
Benton expressed the view that the forty-ninth parallel was ours as a 
matter of right, as it was also a line of convenience between the two 
nations. He argued that it parted the two systems of water — those of 
the Columbia and those of the Fraser; that it also conformed to the 
actual discoveries and settlements of both parties. There was not, on 
the face of the earth, he said, so long and so straight a line, or one so 
adapted to the rights of the parties and the features of the country." 










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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



I mill nil iiiiiiiiii nil 
017 138 070 4 



The ms!abilili], injusUce and confusion inlroduced inlo 
tKe public councils have in truth, been the mortal diseases 
under which popular qouernmenls have everywhere perished. 

Federalist Madison 



Inveterate antipathies aqainsl particular nations, and 
sionate affections to others, are to be avoided. 

George Washington 



pas* 



Shall the name that made ijour citi) the qlori] of the earth 
be mentioned with obloquq or detraction? 

Addison 



